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George II of Great Britain

Hanover, 10 Nov 1683 – London, 1760

17 facts3 sources

Animated by AI

About George II

George II: King of Great Britain, Ireland and Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg

AI-assisted · edited

The collection records George II’s birth in Hanover in 1683, although the precise date remains disputed. He was the son of George I of Great Britain and Sophia Dorothea of Celle. 12345

From 1727 until 1760, George II was King of Great Britain and Ireland and held the title of Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg. 6789

George II was united in marriage to Caroline of Ansbach. The collection places his death in London in 1760, the same year that closed the period assigned to his kingship, while recording a dispute over the precise death date. 1011126

Drafted with AI and edited against the collection. Open a citation to see the record, its sources and how certain it is.

Facts and their sources

  • Born10 Nov 1683, Hanoveror 9 Nov 1683Records disagree1 source
  • MarriedCaroline of Ansbachnot verified1 source
  • TitleDuke of Cambridge, 1706–1727or Prince-Elector, 1727–1760 · King of Ireland, 1727–1760 · Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, 1727–1760 · Monarch of Great Britain, 1727–1760not verified1 source
  • TitlePrince-Elector, 1727–1760or Duke of Cambridge, 1706–1727 · King of Ireland, 1727–1760 · Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, 1727–1760 · Monarch of Great Britain, 1727–1760not verified1 source
  • TitleKing of Ireland, 1727–1760or Duke of Cambridge, 1706–1727 · Prince-Elector, 1727–1760 · Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, 1727–1760 · Monarch of Great Britain, 1727–1760not verified1 source
  • TitleMonarch of Great Britain, 1727–1760or Duke of Cambridge, 1706–1727 · Prince-Elector, 1727–1760 · King of Ireland, 1727–1760 · Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, 1727–1760not verified1 source
  • TitleDuke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, 1727–1760or Duke of Cambridge, 1706–1727 · Prince-Elector, 1727–1760 · King of Ireland, 1727–1760 · Monarch of Great Britain, 1727–1760not verified1 source
  • Died1760, LondonRecords disagree1 source
  • MotherSophia Dorothea of Cellenot verified1 source
  • FatherGeorge I of Great Britainnot verified1 source

A life in time

  1. 10 Nov 1683

    Born in Hanover

  2. 1706–1727

    Duke of Cambridge

  3. 1707–1736

    10 children are born

  4. 1727–1760

    Prince-Elector

  5. 1727–1760

    King of Ireland

  6. 1727–1760

    Monarch of Great Britain

  7. 1727–1760

    Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg

  8. 1760

    Dies in London

Family

See the tree

Parents

Partner

Children · 10

During his lifetime

He lived through 9 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Hanover.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1680s · George II is born in Hanover

In the news1685

Huguenot migration to Brandenburg

The Great Elector issued the Edict of Potsdam, inviting French Huguenot refugees to settle in Brandenburg and Berlin to help rebuild the economy.

Work

Common Jobs in Rural Villages

Most common occupations were in agriculture, including fullholders, smallholders, and landless laborers like cottars (Seldner) and day laborers who often combined farming with small-scale craft or wage work. Female labor was essential and included tasks like spinning, sewing, agricultural labor, and working as live-in maidservants.

What people wore

Men's multi-functional hat design

The Winkelmann hat for men featured an integrated fabric bag designed to carry items like a prayer book, bread, and a hip flask.

Daily life

Seasonal and limited schooling

There was no general compulsory schooling, and children often attended only during winter months because their labor was required for farm work in the summer. Instruction focused primarily on memorizing the Bible and learning to pray, with limited teaching of reading and writing.

News and letters

Chaotic cargo on post wagons

Post wagons often carried a chaotic mix of goods, including barrels, crates, and even unpackaged game like deer or pigs.

Music

Village dance in 1678 with bagpipes

A painting of a 1678 village dance shows young people dancing to a bagpiper and a drummer while villagers drink beer in the outdoor setting.

At the table

Alcoholic beverages replaced water for safety

People rarely drank water due to contamination risks, relying instead on wine or beer, which were considered safer because of the fermentation process. Milk was almost exclusively for small children, as most of it was processed into butter and cheese for storage.